factory trailer hitch question
 

So I picked up a factory trailer hitch from the junkyard today for my 95 blazer. The hitch came off a 98 bravada. When I got it home and installed it, everything lines up just fine, however, I noticed the capacities sticker on the hitch and this raised some questions.
The hitch itself is pretty beefy and accepts a 2 inch receiver. I figured coming from the factory, it had to be a class III hitch but when I look at the sticker on it, it gives a "weight carrying" of 3500 pounds and a "weight distributing" of 6000 pounds. The blazer itself lists 5000 pounds as max towing. The junkyard also had an envoy hitch- should I call and see if that lists the same capacity, or hopefully more? Just not sure why the bravada factory hitch only lists 3500

weight capacity changes depending upon with /without lift bars on the hitch

IMO I wouldnt tow anything near 3500lbs with or without weight bars

here is a link they will better explain

Common Weight Distribution and Sway Control Questions | etrailer.com

the hitch should be able to handle more than that, but its what you call CYA! Cover Your A**.
and that is what GMC is doing when they put those numbers on there. but in reality, are you really going to hook up something that weights that much. i mean you could, just make sure that you have good tires, a brake controller (if available), and some common sense.

sorry, double post.

Thanks for advice. I am going to pull my boat. It's 18 feet long. Weighs roughly 2800 pounds but by the time I load up all my crap in the boat, and factor in skis, wakeboard, wakeboard Tower, 30 gallons of gasoline, etc then it's getting mighty close to being over 3500
I know it "should" work but I guess I was looking for a better answer. My jeep liberty pulls it just fine and the draw tite hitch and the jeep both state 5000 pounds. Maybe I should return the factory hitch to junkyard and get a Reese hitch that says 5000 on it for the blazer too.

I have heard of broken frames in Jeeps as well :icon_twocents: